The underground station dug up the memories of Tokyo's metro for both of them. The familiar scent of used metal and cheap electricity hung in the air, and the faint echoes of distant conversations reverberated off the lightly tiled walls. The ticket booth stood under the dim light, its worn surface a testament to countless travelers passing through on the daily. The tracks stretched into darkness, and the tram sat waiting in its tracks, a gleaming metal serpent ready to whisk its passengers away. The station wasn't bustling, unlike the frantic energy typical of rush hour they expected. It didn't seem this transportation was used to get to and from work by the working class. The world's passengers mainly consisted of adventurers, traveling salesmen, and officials; namely, those who had money to spare.
The tickets were rather pricey at two silver each way, considering the average salaries they knew of, but that was to be expected. The cost reflected the exclusive clientele it served, the upper class.
After a short wait in the line and then at the tram stop, they found themselves inside the metal contraption. It lacked any sort of walls or safety belts, an open design that whispered of thrilling, reckless freedom. Just two rows of seats facing each other, inviting both camaraderie and quiet contemplation.
{ This might be how they get rid of stupid people who decide to travel. } Buku mused, her eyes glancing around the sparse crowd with caution.
With them in the same wagon was a lone man dressed in priest's garb, a thick book cradled in his hands, his eyes scanning its pages with a serene focus. Opposite them sat an older dwarven couple, finely dressed. At least Buku thought the man was a dwarf, although he could also have been some strange hair elemental masquerading as one. His long gray hair and equally bushy beard concealed his face entirely, yet somehow this creature effortlessly drank from the mug that never left his hand, not for refills or otherwise. The barrel beside him, perched on the seat, refilled his mug with an almost magical efficiency. The older dwarven woman had nestled her head on the man's broad shoulder, dozing off even before the tram began to move, lightly snoring.
The dwarves, though two full heads shorter than Buku, matched Ainz in width. They gave the impression of a race both exceptionally strong and sturdy, akin to how they were portrayed in Earth media. Give the two some axes and they'd fit right into most fantasy.
{ If corporations on Earth could get away with something like this, they definitely would have made a metro like this, if only to save a few dollars. } Ainz commented, tucking Buku's hair carefully between her back and the seat to ensure it wouldn't catch on anything during the trip.
{ Thanks. } Buku replied, leaning over to plant a quick kiss on his cheek, her fingers intertwining with his as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze in response.
The tram lurched into motion, the rhythmic clatter of wheels against the tracks creating a symphony of clicking sounds punctuated by louder clunks when the wheels went over the welding lines on the tracks. While this mode of transportation didn't particularly give a sense of safety, it offered an exhilarating sense of adventure for the duo, who had never experienced resting while traveling with such freedom.
The monotonous descent deep underground gradually lulled them both into a tranquil state. Buku yawned occasionally, her eyelids growing heavy with time. Finally, the descent ended and the tram glided along smooth rails.
Buku began to nod off, taking her cue from the older dwarven woman, and rested her head on Ainz's shoulder. For him, however, sleep remained elusive. Even in his current visage form, he had found that he didn't feel the need to sleep as he once had. Yet, he cherished and still preferred to lay in bed at night, listening to his wife's soft breathing and the occasional sleepy murmur. The undead didn't need to sleep apparently.
Suddenly, the monotonous stone walls fell away, replaced by the dazzling transparency of a glass tube through which the tram traveled, surrounded by an endless expanse of water. Schools of fish swirled around, unbothered by the technological marvel slicing through their watery realm at speeds they could never reach.
Ainz gently nudged his wife, shaking her awake, { Look. }
Her surprised gasp was all the confirmation he needed of her excitement, a spectacular tableau of sea life dancing before their eyes.
Buku spun around, standing on her knees on the seat. { Hey, there's a sunken ship! And look at a giant sea creature with tentacles… like… like an octopus. }
Ainz turned his head to look, wrapping an arm firmly around her waist to keep her from falling off the tram as it jingled and bumped. Buku, meanwhile, continued to point at various wonders beyond the glass with childlike glee. They had once visited a small aquarium on Earth, an expensive outing given the state of their world, but there was simply no comparison to what they were seeing now. This vibrant, pristine blue sea, free of pollution and teeming with healthy marine life, was a sight to see. It was a glimpse of what Earth once was before it was ravaged by greed, robbing humanity of normal life and the planet of its health.
For two whole blissful hours, they enjoyed the sea scenery until the tram began its ascent back to the surface. Buku finally sat down, still excited from the sights they had witnessed as she rambled in Ainz's mind.
{ We'll have to take this ride again in the future. And can you imagine they're only charging two silver for it? } She gushed with enthusiasm.
{ Now you sound like Blue Planet. } Ainz remarked, drawing a comparison to the nature-loving guild member who had created the sixth floor with an accurate night sky. He had been an avid advocate for nature in their guild tomb, going so far as to spend obscene amounts of resources and time to convince others that they should have a floor for a non-polluted starry sky. He got his floor.
{ He would have loved this place. I wonder what happened to him. I think he was still playing when Itsuki and I left. } Her tone grew somber, her gaze distant as if shifting to memories of the past. { Do you think we owe them a chance to be here? Once we know how to bring my brother here, we could potentially find the rest. }
Ainz didn't really talk with Buku about the time he was left alone in the game and how everyone else had left, he didn't want to. She was well aware he had taken it hard and had chosen not to press him, preferring not to tear up old wounds.
'Do we owe them this chance? They left. Buku did too, but she was getting sick…' { I don't know… } Ainz replied honestly, without giving any detail.
{ Ainz… you can't just bottle up your feelings. I know you took it hard with everyone leaving you alone, if I knew at the time, I would've found time to… } Buku leaned closer, hugging him sideways, her warmth a gentle balm against the lingering ache in his core.
{ I… } He struggled for words, the weight of unspoken emotions pressing down, or better yet, he didn't really know what to say. { They left. They didn't care. I wanted them to come back to have something. But when we got together… I stopped caring about them. Just like they did about me. So I don't know If I owe them a chance or if I even care enough to bring them over. We will get Itsuki here and after that… I… }
{ Ainz, I don't care about most of them. Not one bit. Shiori sure, I would want to get her. I would try to get the rest of them for your sake, but honestly why bother? We can rebuild Nazarick as it was, but more guild members will only cause trouble. }
{ Shiori? } Ainz inquired.
{ She played Ankoro. We were good friends back then. I think she had a nervous breakdown and that's why she quit the game. }
{ Each of them has their own stories. I just don't know them. } Was it his undead nature that affected how much he cared about the former guild members or maybe resentment for not sharing such facts with him, perhaps some combination? He only knew about Buku's condition back then, and even that had eventually soured.
{ Maybe we should drop the topic until we can actually do something about it, but darling, please don't brood in silence if you have unresolved issues regarding the guild members. }
{ I don't think I have any left. I got over it a while ago. } Ainz assured her. Was it the truth? He couldn't tell. But he could only move forward from now on.
{ Okay, just don't keep everything to yourself. } Buku leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder again, offering silent comfort with her presence.
Their conversation died down, leaving only the monotonous sounds of the tram as a constant companion to the duo. The gentle clatter of wheels against tracks echoed in their minds, a soothing backdrop to their contemplation. It didn't take long for their trip to end as the tram glided into an identical station, equally dim and worn.
Ironforge itself loomed like a fortress, directly carved into the heart of a mountain, a testament to dwarven ingenuity but lacking the inviting charm of the sun-kissed sprawl of Stormwind. The cavernous halls of the underground city were shrouded in dark shadows and bathed in the dim and warm glow of forge fires, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura in contrast with a sprawling medieval city with bright blue skies and delightful bustle.
After a quick tour around the place, both decided that there wasn't much point in staying in this city for long as the only note-worthy place to see was the great forge itself - a heart of molten power throbbing at the city's core, complimented with the clang of hammer on anvil reverberating through the tunnels. Ainz exchanged about a hundred Yggdrasil coins for local currency and together with Buku went on another book shopping spree. Ironforge boasted a treasure trove of texts with all kinds of topics like history and geography unmatched by Stormwind, having long held texts due to its strong defenses. The aptly named Explorers' League seemed to be dedicated to history and archaeology and was a great source for the books purchased, eager to help out anyone interested in studying history.
The lodgings they saw were as austere as the city itself. The inn had small, stone-walled rooms furnished with stone beds, which Buku obviously used to her full advantage to the delight of Ainz. If the taverns of Ironforge lacked the charm of Stormwind, it made up for it in the warmth with its amber ales, meads sweet as summer honey, and friendlier company. Nearly every dwarf was ready to raise a mug in camaraderie and even buy them the local favorites to show off the brewing skills of the short and industrious race, especially of their favorite brews. Their laughter, hearty and infectious, filled the air from top to bottom. A chorus of voices constantly sang praises to the brews. Even small children could tell apart various ales and beers, their discerning tongues attuned to the artistry of fermented beverages from a young age.
It was only the next day's noon when they finally were ready to move on. And this time they took the fastest non-magical transport there was for the city: Gryphons. The price for such means of transportation was steep, costing several more silver coins per person, but it would take only a day to reach the Southshore, the city closest to the horde-controlled lands in the Eastern Kingdoms. These majestic flying creatures with the bodies of lions and wings of eagles were fitted with decorated harnesses, and the creatures were fed generous chunks of meat right before departure.
"Hold tight," the gruff and weathered dwarf rumbled, "And don't be tuggin' or kickin'. These beasties don't like it, see? They spin 'til you're dizzy," he explained as he saddled two of them on, his thick accent hard to understand. Buku, with a keen ear for accents honed by her voice acting career, noted the similarity between the dwarf's speech patterns to that of the Scottish people who sometimes played comedic roles in games she voiced.
"Anything else we should know?" She asked the bulky man who resembled a ball with a beard, the dwarf's bald head reflecting the dim light of the subterranean city with a pristine sheen.
The dwarf chuckled and produced two leather packs from seemingly within his beard, "Here are packs with dried meat. Feed them to the beasties when they make a screeching sound. They are well-trained and won't ask for treats right away. Don't try to guide them. They will take you right to the Menethil harbor in the northern wetlands. There, me cousin Tholfug will prepare you for the rest of the trip," he stroked the birdlike creature's neck and motioned for Buku and Ainz to get on, soothing the Gryphons.
As they climbed onto the backs of the Gryphons, the creatures eyed Ainz and Buku with a mix of curiosity and indifference, eyeing more their snack packs. Their bodies were sleek and muscular, a perfect blend of feline power and avian grace that Earth media could have never hoped to imitate. The Dwarf firmly strapped them to the saddles, the leather biting into their clothes, and attached the feeding packs as well.
With a final pat to the Gryphons' necks, the dwarf gave a hearty, "Off you go! Pleasant trip!"
The world tilted as the creature beneath Ainz launched itself into the air, its powerful wings beating against the cavernous walls as it soared. At first, Ainz held on for his dear life as the flying creature took off with great speed and navigated the cavernous terrain with near suicidal abandon. The sensation was both exhilarating and terrifying, like riding a rich person's wild roller coaster through a narrow, twisting tunnel.
{ This is awesome! I want one! } Buku squealed in his mind once again, showing how much more adventurous she was compared to him and his caution.
{ This is what I get for having a trophy wife. Now you want your own Gryphon. } Ainz shot back with a chuckle, finally getting a feel for the ride.
{ You surely lucked out, so don't complain when your lovely wife wants things. I know my man can afford it. } Her mental voice was a purr, a soft, teasing melody that danced through Ainz's mind as she reminded him of the age-old mantra; happy wife, happy life.
He couldn't help but chuckle in response, { Sure, I'll get you one if we survive the trip. } His response was a mix of jest and a hint of underlying concern as the Gryphon flew too close to a building, clipping the smooth stone surface with the tip of its right wing.
{ We are nearly unkillable and these babies know what they are doing. } Buku's bravado grew infectious.
His stress limits weren't tested for long, but a moment later they were out in the open, a beautiful snow-covered mountain range spreading in all directions. The air was impossibly fresh and so cold a human would have to cover his face with thick cloth just to not to get it frozen off.
He and Buku were dressed in thick winter coats at the suggestion of the Gryphon handler, so the biting cold was a non-issue, not that it could do any damage with his and Buku's resistances.
They flew over the mountains and watched the peaceful scenery, exchanging their appreciation for such intact nature. The scene soon shifted to marshy planes as they gradually descended to sea level. Marshlands stretched out as far as the eye could see, a vast, watery expanse teeming with wildlife. The air was thick and humid, filled with the musky aromas of swamps, decay, and moisture. Flocks of birds occasionally crossed their paths, massive alligators jumped out of the shallow waters grabbing whatever unfortunate prey had gotten too close to their hiding spots, and so much more caught their eyes.
Menethil harbor was but a short stop, where their Gryphons got swapped out for new, rested ones and they were on their way once more in no time. Now they were traveling over a sea with a coastline to their right, a constant reminder they were on the right path.
{ You know, unless we really need to hurry, I want to travel like this. I can't describe how good it feels to fly on the back of a Gryphon. } Buku commented as her transport did a loop around a small coastal city, ready to descend.
{ Then we'd likely need to get our own flying creatures. But let's not rush things and shop around for what is available. } Ainz replied. He wasn't against the idea inherently, but there was no doubt in his mind that owning flying creatures would require a lot of upkeep, in land, money, resources, time, and commitment.
{ Sure, who knows, maybe someone sells tamed dragons. Imagine us landing on the backs of such majestic creatures right in the middle of the city! }
{ Isn't that what villains do in anime? } Ainz asked.
{ I mean we're not planning to be the good guys anyway. An emperor and empress of a mighty nation can afford that sort of stunt. }
'It seems she has it all figured out. Oh well, we both like to put up an act so why not.' He mused as they landed. As their Gryphon began the descent towards a quaint coastal town, Ainz felt a sense of anticipation. Today they would stay in the local inn and tomorrow leave Alliance lands to see how the grass was on the other side. They had heard the Alliance's story, it was time to hear the Horde's.
Edited by NabeisWaifu and aidan_lo.
Proofreading By aidan_lo, IAMTHEPLOKOKIOPO, miraculous-trash, fvvck, Malguis
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